.Max Olson, ESPN Staff WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Significant 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the University of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV created a statement Saturday in its 1st game without previous starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are going to be only fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 draw Fresno State as well as transferring to 4-0, UNLV verified it'll be actually a competitor in the Hill West race irrespective of its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 lawns, rushed for 119 backyards and accounted for 4 complete touchdowns in his first start for the Rebels after Sluka chose to leave the system on Wednesday over a conflict about his NIL compensation." It was company customarily," UNLV trainer Barry Odom claimed. "Our company have actually obtained an extremely mature group. ... Our gamers, our experts've got strong management. They know the mission that our experts get on as well as they received it done." Williams, a sixth-year senior and FCS transmission from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and shed a near competition along with Sluka in loss camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 activities at Campbell, leaving as the program's career leader in passing yards as well as touchdowns, and was ready for his chance." I assumed he worked, I thought he was effective," Odom said. "I believed the offending line performed a remarkable work protecting him. I presumed the receivers ran excellent routes. I assumed the runners operated hard. Our team participated in well as an offense." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns as well as stated the quarterback adjustment was "definitely good for our company."" He is actually merely a terrific quarterback that our team, as an offense, we may rally behind as well as only go by his pace," White said.After beginning 3 ready UNLV, Sluka decided to redshirt as well as is counted on to get in the transactions portal in December. Sluka's papa and also representative have actually affirmed he was verbally assured $100,000 through UNLV offending coordinator Brennan Marion throughout his recruitment however acquired simply $3,000 coming from the university's NIL aggregate. UNLV said in a claim that Sluka's reps created financial demands for him to maintain playing that it interpreted as "an offense of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, and also Nevada state law." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom checked out from a ready claim in the course of his postgame news conference as well as performed certainly not take concerns pertaining to Sluka. He said UNLV adhered to relevant policies and also is devoted to the development and success of every gamer in the system." Numerous have expressed incredibly solid point of views about the events of recently without total know-how of the simple facts, without full know-how of the celebrations of recently as well as without full know-how of the rules in the ever-changing, growing NIL device," Odom pointed out. "And also regrettably, some have actually also used this condition as a platform for their personal plans. I appreciate everyone's right to a point of view, and I won't comment on others' opinions or even their motivations for expressing all of them." White additionally had a notification for Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens after the Las vega casino site shared passion in delivering $100,000 to keep Sluka on the group, telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal that accomplishing this would certainly deserve it "to always keep the Rebels' playoff wishes alive."" I would talk to that someone reach out to the Circa chief executive officer and also ask him, with that $100,000 that he desired to give, give it to our O-line satisfy," White said.The Rebels broke a six-game losing touch versus Fresno Condition as well as achieved the plan's 1st 4-0 beginning given that 1976 along with a tough time with all three stages of the game. Their protection produced four interceptions and also 4 sacks while permitting merely 30 rushing gardens, and their special groups delivered an obstructed punt that White returned for a touchdown in the initial quarter plus a 90-yard kickoff return goal by Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The triumph keeps UNLV in the race for the extended 12-team College Football Playoff and also concludes a disorderly full week for an athletic division that was actually all at once managing the most up to date around of event realignment in university athletics.UNLV officially decided to stay in the Mountain range West on Thursday, declining a move to the Pac-12 adhering to that game's addition of Boise State, Colorado Condition, Fresno State, San Diego Condition as well as Utah Condition for 2026. The seven remaining institutions in the Hill West accepted a give of civil rights that will definitely bind all of them to the association via 2031-32. After already beating Major 12 members Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV obtains another option to take down a Power 4 rival as well as strengthen its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it throws 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our fellas will turn the web page truly promptly," Odom mentioned. "I could possibly inform in the locker room our team prepare to perform that and get on to the upcoming game.".